29th Infantry Division (United States)
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| 29th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 29th
| |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | National Guard of the United States |
| Motto(s) | Twenty-Nine Let's Go |
The 29th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army which participated in the Normandy landings on Omaha Beach and the rest of the liberation of Europe.
Formation and history
The 29th Division was a National Guards unit[1].
American entry into World War 1 and formation
18 July 1917 - Constitution
After the US declaration of war on Germany, it would have been decided by the US Army to create a 29th Infantry Division. And so on 18 July 1917, the Headquarters Company of the 29th Infantry Division as well as the division itself was constituted/activated into the United States National Guard. It was planned to be organized with troops from Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC[2][3].
28 July 1917
On this date, the division was put under the command of Brigadier General Charles W. Barber[2].
25 August 1917 - Organization
A month and seven days after its constitution, Headquarters company was organized at Camp McClellan, Alabama[3]. The same day General Barber was replaced by Major General Charles G. Morton[2].
24 September 1917
On this date General Morton was replaced as commander by Brigadier General William C. Rafferty[2].
6 December 1917
After around two months, Morton became commander again and replaced Rafferty [2].
11 December 1917
Just after five days of being replaced, Rafferty replaced Morton again[2].
26 December 1917
Finally Morton became commander for the third time, replacing Rafferty[2].
23 March 1918
On this day, again Rafferty replaced Morton as commander[2].
26 March 1918
For the final time, Morton replaced Rafferty as commander of the 29th[2]. It is unknown exactly why Rafferty and Morton kept replacing one another.
Jul 1918 - Shipping off to Europe
In July 1918, the 29th Division went overseas to Europe[2].
July 1918 - May 1919 - In Europe
While the Headquarters Company and the 29th Infantry Division were in Europe, they participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. For this they had a total of 5570 casualties (with 787 killed in action and 4738 wounded). They also participated in Alsace in 1918[3].
Before 30 May 1918 - Return to the US
Sometime before 30 May, the 29th Division returned to the United States from its combat in Europe[2].
30 May 1919 - Demobilization
On 30 May 1919, the Headquarters Company of the 29th as well as the 29th were demobilized at Camp Dix, New Jersey[3][2].
World War II
3 February 1941 - Induction into federal service and activation
On 3 February 1941, it was inducted into federal service (activated) at Washington, DC [2][4].
February 1941
In February, the division received its first commander since activation, that being Major General Milton A. Reckord[2].
January 1942
In January 1942, Reckord was no longer in command of the 29th[2].
February 1942
By the next month, the division received a new commander, that being Major General Leonard T. Gerow[2].
12 March 1942 - Reorganization and redesignation
Just over a year later, the unit was reorganized and recognized as the Headquarters Company of the 29th Infantry Division[4].
5 October 1942 - Shipping overseas for training
On this day, the 29th Infantry Division went overseas to the United Kingdom for training in the planned cross channel invasion of France[2].
5 October 1942 to 4 June 1944 - Training in England and Scotland
Between October 1942 and June 1944, the 29th Infantry Division trained in England and Scotland with the 1st Infantry Division for the aforementioned cross-channel invasion[2].
July 1943
In July 1943, Gerow was made no longer the commander of the division, and so was replaced with Major General Charles H. Gerhardt[2].
22 October 1943 - Assignment to V Corps[edit | edit source]
On 22 October the division was assigned to V Corps, which was part of the First Army[5].
6 June 1944 - Operation Neptune
The Battle order of the Division for D-Day was as follows:
- 115th Infantry Regiment
- 116th Infantry Regiment
- 175th Infantry Regiment
- 29th Reconnaissance Troop
- 121st Engineer Combat Battalion
- 29th Division Artillery
- L Company, 29th Signal Battalion
- E Company, 729th Ordnance Light Maintenance Battalion
- 29th Quartermaster Company
- 29th Military Police Platoon
- 104th Medical Battalion
- 743rd Tank Battalion
- 747th Tank Battalion
- 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion
- 1 detachment of the Headquarters Battery, 49th Antiaircraft Artillerymen Brigade
- 110th Antiaircraft Artillerymen Battalion
- 457th Antiaircraft Artillerymen Automatic Weapons Battalion
- 1 Detachment of the 413th Antiaircraft Artillerymen Battalion
- 1 Detachment of the 320th Antiaircraft Artillerymen Balloon Battalion Very Low Altitude
- 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
- 5th Engineer Special Brigade
- 6th Engineer Special Brigade
- 992nd Engineer Treadway Bridge Company
- 1 Detachment of the 996th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company
- N Company, 503rd Engineer Light Pontoon Company
- 234th Engineer Combat Battalion
- Headquarters Company, 254th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1121st Engineer Combat Group
- 147th Engineer Combat Battalion
- Headquarters Company, 336th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1171st Engineer Combat Group
- 112th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 146th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 149th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 1340th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 610th Engineer Light Equipment Company
- Headquarters Battery, V Corps Artillery
- 1 Detachment of the 17th Field Artillery Observation Battalion
- Headquarters Company, 33rd Field Artillery Battalion, 190th Field Artillery Group
- 186th Field Artillery Battalion
- 187th Field Artillery Battalion
- 190th Field Artillery Battalion
- 200th Field Artillery Battalion
- 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 26th Regimental Company Combat Team
- 2nd Ranger Battalion
- 5th Ranger Battalion
On 6 June 1944, the 29th division led the first assault, by the 116th Infantry Regiment, on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, and faced fierce resistance by the Germans[5].
6 to 9 June 1944
Between this time the division fought its way to Isigny[5].
9 June 1944 - Capture and occupation of Isigny
On 9 June the 29th capture Isigny and occupied it[5].
9 June to 18 July 1944 - Fight to Saint-Lô
Between 9 June and 18 July, the 29th cut its way across the Elle River and advanced slowly towards Saint-Lô fighting bitterly with the Germans in the Normandy hedgerows[5].
14 June 1944 - Assignment to XIX Corps
On 14 June, 8 days after D-Day, the division was reassigned from V Corps to XIX Corps[5], probably still part of the First Army.
18 July 1944 - Capture of Saint-Lô
On 18 July the 29th captured Saint-Lô[5].
18 July to 7 August 1944 - Fight for Vire
After the capture of St.-Lô, the 29th moved into the Battle of Vire[5].
1 August 1944
On this day the 29th was part of the XIX Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group[5].
7 August 1944 - Capture of Vire
On 7 August the division managed to capture the strongly held Vire from the Germans[5].
7 to 25 August 1944
After the capture of Vire, the 29th then began its move on attempting to capture the port city of Brest[5].
12 August 1944
On 12 August the division was reassigned to V Corps[5].
19 August 1944
On 19 the division was in First Army, 12th Army Group, but was attached to VIII Corps, which was part of Third Army, part of 12th Army Group[5].
25 August to 18 September 1944 - Battle of Brest
The 29th would have reached Brest on 25 August, and began its engagement in the battle for the city that day.
5 September 1944
On 5 September the division was made part of VIII Corps, Ninth Army[5].
19 September 1944
The division was finally able to capture the city 19 September[5].
September to October 1944
For a short time period after the Battle of Brest, the 29th rested.
21 September 1944
The division on this day was made part of XIX Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group[5].
October 1944 - The Teveren-Geilenkirchen Line
Through October 1944 the division took position on the Teveren-Geilenkirchen Line[5].
Mid-October 1944
Around mid-october the 116th took part in the Battle of Aachen[5].
22 October 1944
The 29th as well as the rest of XIX Corps was reassigned to Ninth Army, part of 12th Army Group[5].
16 November 1944 - The push on the Roer
On this day the division began its drive to the Roer river[5].
16 to 30 November 1944
Through the month they pushed through Siersdorf, Setterich, Durboslar, and Bettendort[5].
8 December 1944
On this day, heavy fighting against the Germans reduced the Hasenfeld Gut and Julich Sportplatz[5].
8 December 1944 to 23 February 1945 - defense on the Roer
Between 8 December and 23 February, the division was put to holding defensive positions along the Roer before they prepared for the offensive over it[5].
20 December 1944
XIX Corps and the rest of Ninth Army was attached to the British 21st Army Group, still in 12th Army Group[5].
23 December 1944
The Division was reassigned to XIII Corps[5].
4 February 1945
The division on this day was reassigned to XIX Corps[5].
23 February 1945 - Attack across the Roer
On this day the 29th started its attack across the Roer, to which they moved through Julich, Broich, Immerath, Titz[5].
1 March 1945
On 1 March, the division captured Munchen-Gladback[5].
Between 1 and 30 March 1945 - Out of combat
Between 1 and 30, the division was put out of combat[5].
29 March 1945
On this day the 29th was assigned to XVI Corps[5].
1 to 19 April 1945 - 116th helping mop up the Ruhr Pocket
In early April, the 116th was assigned to help close the Ruhr Pocket[5].
4 April 1945
On this day the XVI corps was made part of Ninth Army, 12th Army Group[5].
5 April 1945
On this day it was party of Ninth Army, 12th Army Group[5].
12 April 1945
The division on this day was back in XVI Corps[5].
17 April 1945
The division today was assigned to XIII Corps[5].
19 April 1945 - Push to the Elbe
On 19 April the division pushed to the Elbe river and began holding defensive positions there[5].
19 April to 4 May 1945
While the division was holding defensive positions along the Elbe, the 175th cleared the Klotze Forest[5].
4 May 1945
On 4 May it was finally reassigned to XVI Corps[5].
After 7 May - Military Government duty after VE-day
After VE-day the 29th was put on military government duty in the Bremen enclave[5].
Inactivation and then reactivation
4 January 1946 - Return to the US
On 4 January the division was shipped back overseas to the US[2].
17 January 1946 - Inactivation
On 17 January 1946, the Headquarters Company, as well as presumably the 29th Division, was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey[4][2].
23 October 1946 - reorganization and recognition
Headquarters Company and presumably the 29th Infantry was federally recognized and reorganized once again in Norfolk, Virginia[4].
14 January 1947 - partial reorganization
The next year, the Headquarters Company and presumably the 29th was partially reorganized and federally recognized at Baltimore, Maryland[4].
1950 - Croix de Guerre
In 1950 the Headquarters Company along with the 29th were awarded the French military medal, la Croix de Guerre avec Palme. They also received a streamer embroidered with "BEACHES OF NORMANDY"[4].
Citations
- ↑ Russo, Ralph Arnold. "D-Day 29th Division Veteran Shares His Story (Full Interview)" (Interview). Interviewed by Rishi Sharma.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. 1950. p. 531.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Headquarters Company, 29th Infantry Division (United States)". WWII Archives. 23 March 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Wilson, John B. (1999). ARMIES CORPS DIVISIONS and SEPARATE BRIGADES (PDF). United States Army Center of Military History. p. 320.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. 1950. p. 532.
Bibliography
- Wilson, John B. (1999). ARMIES CORPS DIVISIONS and SEPARATE BRIGADES (PDF) (1st ed.). United States: United States Army Center of Military History. ISBN 0160499941.
- Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. United States Army. 1950. ASIN B0006D8NKK.
Contributors: Paul Sidle